Prep advice

[SERVDAVE]

I'm currently planning a trip to ride to far eastern russia on my 650gs. Any adive on what to mod/any weakness I need to be aware of would be welcome. Its in two years time ( waiting for friend to finish uni) but want to do things gradually to spread the cost.

So far I've got barkbuster guards, TT bar risers, Stalhkoffer panniers. The rest is standard.

Cheers,

 

[everywherevirtually]

Keep the weight down and try and use soft luggage if possible. It does depend which route you are taking and how difficult the terrain will be.

 

[santrix]

By my MRA Vario screen

Hard vs soft is a long and varied subject, security vs weight, thats your choice to make. I'd maybe get some crash bars from sw motech, apart from protection you could always strap stuff to them.

Get a mascot like a teddy bear and strap it somewhere. That way you will be remembered and made easier to find if you need to be. If you want to dissappear, just remove it and you become just another biker as opposed to 'oh yeh the guy with the sheep on his bike.' Im sure you've heard that one before though.

Learn basic first aid. Learn to use everything in your aid kit to help not just yourself but others, allways helps to make friends. Take lots of cheep freebies to give away like pens or something.

oh yeh the bike....

um apart from the usual puncture repair stuff. Air filters are a good one if you're going thru dusty places.

um... cant think..

 

[everywherevirtually]

I'm going to drag SiJonston into this even though he's not aware of it yet. There are threads galore on hard vs soft luggage but it's a myth that hard luggage is more secure. Si told me he forgot his keys and they needed to get into one of the panniers and managed to pop the lock with minimum effort. I've been in the same scenario.

On my travels security was never an issue outside of the UK. I'm not saying stuff can't be nicked but if you read most travelogues you'll find such instances rare and when they do happen they are in cities.

Si has gone from hard luggage to soft. I started with soft, got the hard stuff for shopping as it holds the booze better but since getting the Honda am back to the soft and I'm really enjoying the weight saving. If you are on bad roads or ruts and need to paddle a metal pannier can snap your leg from behind. .

Totally in favour of the Mascot. This is "Motorrad Hund"

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everywherevirtually/2797433935/" title="Motorrad Hund rides again by everywherevirtually, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2797433935_264bb25922_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Motorrad Hund rides again" /></a>

 

[zebra]

prep advice

Hmmn, since the 650 has tubeless, I guess you would not be needing tire irons, unless you need to fit a tube in an emergency? Anyways, the connecting bit between most left-side and right-side crashbars is perfect place for carrying a LONG tire iron (think leverage) with a SHORT tire-iron carried along the frame, underneath the seat. Both wrapped in a racing bike tube, zero rattles, and inconspicous.

Maybe free up some space in the rear recepticle (sp?) by moving that pesky plug and terminating resistor cap that sits 'stage centre!' to one side with a simple cable tie, and then much more space available?

The hidden compartment underneath the rear mudguard/behind numberplate is PERFECT for carrying a towing strap - they weigh almost nothing, it's fully hidden from view, and just a single screw to retrieve it, out of mind, but peace of mind, too! (Mine is there - works a charm!)

Cheers

 

[santrix]

Hidden Compartment? Disnt even know there was one....

 

[Sooty09]

You do not say if you have had experience of this type of journey. Im assuming because you are still in collage you have not had chance to make many long journeys. There are plenty of people on this forum to give you specialised advise on Visas and carnets etc.
My advise is to make a few shorter journeys before you set off. Try Scotland this year for a soft/budget introduction to long daily rides, and check out your camping gear and luggage system.
Next year try Bulgaria or Hungary, quite third world in places but with plenty of back up locally if you have money, It would make a nice adventure and probably give a good idea what to expect in Russia.
I will admit at this point, I have not had the courage to venture beyond the Alps by bike so far. I considered it many years ago but jobs, girls, lack of money and simple falling out with the other interested riders stopped it at the thinking stage.
There is an interesting Video about a group who set off round the world on DR350s worth watching http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...bH8dF-&usg=AFQjCNFBSm7WNmCuhEZImu7FK0rFCyIXsg

 

[everywherevirtually]

You do not say if you have had experience of this type of journey. Im assuming because you are still in collage you have not had chance to make many long journeys. There are plenty of people on this forum to give you specialised advise on Visas and carnets etc.
My advise is to make a few shorter journeys before you set off. Try Scotland this year for a soft/budget introduction to long daily rides, and check out your camping gear and luggage system.
Next year try Bulgaria or Hungary, quite third world in places but with plenty of back up locally if you have money, It would make a nice adventure and probably give a good idea what to expect in Russia.
I will admit at this point, I have not had the courage to venture beyond the Alps by bike so far. I considered it many years ago but jobs, girls, lack of money and simple falling out with the other interested riders stopped it at the thinking stage.
There is an interesting Video about a group who set off round the world on DR350s worth watching http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&so...bH8dF-&usg=AFQjCNFBSm7WNmCuhEZImu7FK0rFCyIXsg

Bang on Sooty

I love that Mondo Enduro Promo. and to add to what you said here's some words from the big man himself...

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[SERVDAVE]

I've read the mondo book, guys are nutters!

I'm currently planning a trip next year as a warm up. Gonna get a ferry to the top of spain than ride down to the bottom and catch a ferry to africe. Than travel across, morocco, algeria and tunisa and back into italy.

Idea being that it will not only be a good shake down of the gear but also be good pratice at border crossing.

Never thought of the mascot, great idea.

Any more Ideas feel free to PM.

This is my first big trip, allot to learn!

Cheers

 

[everywherevirtually]

I've read the mondo book, guys are nutters!

I'm currently planning a trip next year as a warm up. Gonna get a ferry to the top of spain than ride down to the bottom and catch a ferry to africe. Than travel across, morocco, algeria and tunisa and back into italy.

Idea being that it will not only be a good shake down of the gear but also be good pratice at border crossing.

Never thought of the mascot, great idea.

Any more Ideas feel free to PM.

This is my first big trip, allot to learn!

Cheers

Think you might have trouble riding from Morrocco to Tunisia. I need to confirm but I believe Algeria is off limits.

it's worth checking out http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ for up to the minute advice.

 

[Twit!]

My advise is to make a few shorter journeys before you set off. Try Scotland this year for a soft/budget introduction to long daily rides, and check out your camping gear and luggage system.
Next year try Bulgaria or Hungary, quite third world in places but with plenty of back up locally if you have money, It would make a nice adventure and probably give a good idea what to expect in Russia.

I understand the sentiment in this but disagree! Just go and do it, forget trial runs and overplanning jand ust get going! I passed my test and rode to Australia within a year of that. I had no clue, I'd never even ridden abroad when I left, the first time I even packed the bike was the night before I left. I had too much with me and most of it got binned or sent back from Istanbul!

I read a lot about planning and luggage and sat nav and all the other crap people worry about and you don't need any of it. Go for soft luggage but really just take one or two changes of clothes and that is it, once you are out of Europe, you can just buy keep non-riding clothes, wear it constantly and then bin it. On the subject of riding clothes, forget all the enduro suits, leather jacket and normal jeans will do - I decided, way too late, that all the riding gear just weighs you down and makes it an utter pain when you stop to look at something, just modify riding and don't crash!! Forget sat-nav, just go with maps, and in some places you don't need them, e.g. in Iran I just kept riding south - did the job!

Trial runs just wear you down and scare you into what you may need (probably won't!) Just set a date and go, and have a brilliant time! Its the bets thing you can ever do!!!

And... Maybe consider a smaller, cheaper bike....

 

[everywherevirtually]

forget all the enduro suits, leather jacket and normal jeans will do

I've heard some bollocks in my time but I think this tops it

While not advocating running out and buying a twat suit having suitable clothing that will protect you from the elements and a fall I would have thought is the bare minimum. . How will your leather jacket and jeans fair when you have ridden the length of Germany in the pouring rain? Or when the warm April air drops to sub zero when you pass over the mountains?

I remember seeing a guy in Germany when I was riding back to blighty. It had been pissing it down all day long. He was taking shelter in a petrol station. Soaked to the bone and shivering in his jeans and leather jacket. I had some water ingress because the water was beginning to creep under my jacket but that was after 5 hours of riding.

Dry runs are very useful. I did one from Manchester to Devon. Again on that trip it pissed it down and on the strength of that I bought handguards, muffs, a vario clutch lever and cut my luggage down by half. There are plenty of examples of ill prepared people who've gone off half cocked only to find themselves in the shit because of lack of preparation.

Every journey is unique and there is no "right way" to do it and I don't think more experienced riders should lecture new riders but there has to be common sense.

A comfortable rider is a safe rider

 

[Micky]

Muchly as above

Hard or soft luggage totally down to personal preference. The Trax panniers were crap ... the BMW's are ace

Spare money hidden in your back protector pocket ... don't get you jacket nicked though

Biggest tip ... learn to guess how much your petrol tank will take. The Russian pumps will dispense any given pre paid petrol. You can't trickle it it, you pay for five litres you get five litres ... woooosh!

I paid up front, well you have to, at the little window in the fortified attendants hut, more than I required... walked back to the bike with the attendant shouting at me from behind the glass and bars, wondering what I was doing/wanted, got the pump to hand and stuck up three fingers ... three litres would be delivered, then maybe another two fingers... and then two litres would be delivered. Dock the hoze and walk back for my change.

Enjoy the planning ... enjoy the trip. Keep us in formed.

 

[Sooty09]

Just go and do it, forget trial runs and overplanning and just get going!
Trial runs just wear you down and scare you into what you may need (probably won't!) Just set a date and go, and have a brilliant time! Its the bets thing you can ever do!!!

This is probably why I have never gone. I suspect the secret of long distance traveling is mainly a state of mind. Where as you can think "I will overcome any problems if they arise" my thinking is "what would I do when a problem does occur", It scared me from venturing too far for the last 40 years and only now do I venture further when I have a full recovery insurance and warranty.

I also have very little patience with petty officials. My travels in China India and the USSR have been with work or a tour so I have been shielded from the worst these jobsworths can do, I have seen them at work with people who are helpless and confused so I cannot imagine setting off on a tour without the required Visas, carnets and documentation. Some planning and preperation are essential.

Nice to hear form somebody who has been bitten by the bug and gone and done it. You must have that right state of mind.

 

[sijohnston]

this very night i've been laying out stuff to take with me (on a similar trip to what you propose) in 3 days. packing up a business, getting out of my house the other night, and dozens of other things have prevented me from over-planning much. of course i've had to think about the visas and LOI's etc as that doesn't happen overnight. allow a month from LOI app for Russia to receiving your visa - stantours and travcour.

it's a good thing to start building your kit locker well in advance. buy stuff as you need it, but don't go overboard. regarding the bike, those that bling them the most, are often those who don't travel the most. the guys travelling tend to spend on the trip, the guys blinging, in my experience, don't. a comment from a seasoned traveller and presenter at the Horizons get together in ireland 2 weeks ago said 'most who are new to adventure travel, spend a fortune on their bikes, it's not necessary & i wish i hadn't'. this'll save you spending unnecessarily. you probably don't need over-priced TT protectors for this, that and the other; bash plate, crash bars, headlamp guard, brush guards, tank bag, panniers (hard or soft), ortlieb rack pack would probably do.

kit - your choice and down to your needs. when i get a chance i'll put a photo up of my choices next week. still need to thin out though as want the bike to be as light as possible.

riding gear - leather jeans and jacket is a nonsense. spend some and get a good suit and helmet. i had a rev'it suit which was a profound waste of money. now on the rallye2 which i love and hasn't ever leaked. it's versatile for all seasons. buy a heated vest for winter, and siberia if you go. daytona trans-open gore boots - simply brilliant, but don't want to trash them doing river crossings, so picked up a 2nd hand pair of alpinestar tech3's motox boots on ebay this week - for more support and easier standing on the pegs over distance. arai tour x helmet, not as quiet as i'd like, but like the peak and don't want to spend on another helmet.

agreed, do a few smaller trips, these are invaluable and you'll quickly figure out what's essential, what you need, and what you'd merely just like.

2 years away? wow, you're an early planner fella. hope this is of some help. i'll perhaps have more advice to offer in a couple of months?

 

[Twit!]

riding gear - leather jeans and jacket is a nonsense.

I knew my comment on that would raise comment! But, I stand by it, you don't simply do not need all the big suits etc. I actually started in a Rallye 2 suit and gave up by Turkey - it was just too bulky and too hot. If you are simply going to ride from point A to point B, get off, get changed and then go out, then I guess suits are OK. But if you intend to kind of get lost a bit, stop and start, see things on the road; then I pretty much guarantee that you will royally fed up with walking around in bike gear!!! But everyone is different and you learn as you go, and what suits one won't suit another, so find what works and stick with it.

Looking back if people really insist on all that stuff, I'd go with a aerostitch over suit that can be stepped out of as soon as you stop. Once out of Europe, riding risks change a bit, I found that I went much slower, due to traffic, people and the state of some roads! On that basis, I decided I didnt need the normal suits and it was the best thing I did, just keep some cheap waterproof trousers and jacket under the seat!

The comment above about it being a state of mind is spot on, it is! It's no more difficult to do a big trip than it is to commute into London each day, in fact it's easier! It helps if you can fix the bike yourself, but if it really does go wrong you can normally find someone to fix it - that is an argument for going on an old, simple bike though! In the end all trips are, are extended holiday's. Forget where you are going and just do 100 miles or so a day, they soon mount up, and you find yourself in a new place.

When people say big trips are hard, they are being well over dramatic - hard is having kids and no job, or no money and mortgage or having to do a job you hate! A big trip is a luxury, and a brilliant one! Go for it!!!

 

[SERVDAVE]

wow, there some good adice.

To give you guys an idea of what I'd like. I kind want to be a bit more organised than the mondo guys but not rush around with hig mile days like ewan and charley.

Ive started earlier because its the kind of guy I am, I like plenty of time to do things. In reality when doing it around work, girlfriend ETC I thin I have it about right.

Bike wise the 650gs is for me, I just love riding it. May not be the lightest bike in the world but she's look after me. I only really want to fit the basics really, crash bars, sump guard, headlight guard and rad guard.

I'll keep you guys in the loop about how things are going. Indeed you are correct everywherevirtually, algeria is shut off. Bosnia has always appealed so might set my sights that way. May raise so money for charity whilst Im at it. I'll keep you posted!

Cheers

 

[everywherevirtually]

wow, there some good adice.

To give you guys an idea of what I'd like. I kind want to be a bit more organised than the mondo guys but not rush around with hig mile days like ewan and charley.

Ive started earlier because its the kind of guy I am, I like plenty of time to do things. In reality when doing it around work, girlfriend ETC I thin I have it about right.

Bike wise the 650gs is for me, I just love riding it. May not be the lightest bike in the world but she's look after me. I only really want to fit the basics really, crash bars, sump guard, headlight guard and rad guard.

I'll keep you guys in the loop about how things are going. Indeed you are correct everywherevirtually, algeria is shut off. Bosnia has always appealed so might set my sights that way. May raise so money for charity whilst Im at it. I'll keep you posted!

Cheers

If it's Bosnia and its environs you are interested in this might whet your appetite.

<object width="700" height="394"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10731627&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=c9ff23&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10731627&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=c9ff23&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="700" height="394"></embed></object><p>The second part of the everywhere, virtually in a year. From March 2009 to march 2010 this video captures some of the highlights, the people and the places visited along the way.</p>

 

[SERVDAVE]

Awesome vid. Can't wait to get out there. Gonna ride to bosnia and back as warm up next year, than off to russia the following year!

 

[everywherevirtually]

Awesome vid. Can't wait to get out there. Gonna ride to bosnia and back as warm up next year, than off to russia the following year!

Cheers Dave,

I would recommend going that Tiny bit further to see Montenegro. It's about an hour down the road and spectacular!